Package and hypodermic syringe.



P. S. PITTENGER.

PACKAGE AND HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.

APPLICATIGN FILED JUNEZB. l9|8.

1.928,174. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

-UNTTED sTATEs PATEET oEErcE.

PAUL S. PITTENGER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO H. K.MULFORD COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

PACKAGE AND HYPODERMIC SYBINGE.

insana. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.. 17, 1918.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL S. PITTENGER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a Package andHypodermic Syringe, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple,conveniently operative and inexpensive form of hypodermic syringe, Whichin addition to its ordinary functions, shall be particularly adapted foruse as a shipping package and container for medicinal liquids, vaccines,serums and the like ;-the invention particularly contemplating a novelarrangement or" parts Where'- by the liquid within the container shallbe ed'ectually prevented from coming in contact with the needle or othermetallic parts of the device until the time at which the syringe is putinto use.

l further desire to provide a hypodermic syringe with novel means forhermetically sealing its liquid-containing compartment under normalconditions, which means however, shall be capable of being unsealed withthe utmost ease and in some cases automatically, when it is desired toexpel the liquid through the needle.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a hypodermic syringehaving the above characteristics, whose construction and arrangement ofparts shall be such as to permit of its proper use by an unskilledoperator;-the construction being such that it may be convenientlycarried :for long periods of time without danger of deterioration orcontamination of the contained liquid.

IThese objects and other advantageous ends l attain as hereinafter setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a hypodermic syringe constructedin accordance with my invention and illustrating it as equipped with oneof the simplest forms of sealing structures;

Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the metallic portions of thesyringe shown in Fig. l, showing them as equipped with modified forms ofmy invention;

Fig. a is a longitudinal section illustrating my invention as applied toanother form of hypodermic syringe; and

Figs 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections illustrating modifications of myinvention.

In Fig. l of the above drawings, l represents an elongated container ofcollapsible material such as a bulb of rubber, permanently closed at oneend and having inserted in its other enda tubular head or plug 2 inwhich is fixed a hypodermic needle Said head and needle are customarilymade of metal and the former is preferably provided with one or moreannular ridges or grooves 4 In order to normally prevent access of theliquid contents of the bulb or container l to the metal of the head orneedle, I seal the inner of easily puncturable material such as rubberdam, and in Fig. l show this as extending over the cylindrical surfaceof the head 2 to which it is held by a thread 6 tied around the same soas to force the sheet rubber into one of the annular grooves 4.Obviously the rubber may be given the form 0f a cap and snapped orforced over the head 2 where it is held by its own resiliency as well asby the bulb l. When the head 2 with its seal or closure 5 is inserted inthe bulb l, it serves as a cork or plug to absolutely cut olfcommunication of said liquid with the atmosphere, at the same time alsoserving to absolutely prevent access of said liquid to the metal partscomprised by the head 2 and needle 3.

ln order to permit of the delivery of the liquid from the interior ofthe bulb or container l, l may utilize a peculiar property of rubber byvirtue of which a small hole or cut made in the rubber sheetautomatically closes when the hole-producing tool or irnplement isremoved, such action occurring if the rubber sheet be punctured when inan unstretched condition, by a needle.

l have utilized this property of the rubber in one form of my inventionby puncturing the closure 5 preferably at or adjacent its center, priorto the introduction of the head 2 into the bulb 1 and have found thatthe liquid contained in said bulb will not under normal conditions leakout through the cut or hole in the rubber sheet nor will it allow theentrance of micro-organisms, etc., from` the cavity of the head 2 to theinterior of the bulb l. It is therefore possible to fill open end of theformer with a sheet 5V l Fig. 2,

the bulb with any desired' liquid and to utilize the syringe as ashipping package or container without the danger of escape of the liquidin the bulb or of its deterioration and contamination.

When it is desired to use the instrument the needle 3 is inserted in therequired manner into or through the skin of a'patient, after whichpressure upon the bulb 1 causes the liquid to press upon and stretch therubberv closure 5, forcing it into the hollow of the head 2 and causingthe previously formed cut to open, thus allowing the liquid to pass fromthe bulb into the head and thence out through the needle.

In that form of my invention shown in I provide the head 2 of the needlewith a closure 5 but in this case do not puncture the latter. When it isdesired to expel the liquid in the bulb or container to which the head 2is attached, a stylet 7 is introduced through the needle and caused topuncture the rubber sheet 5, after which said stylet is withdrawn andthe instrument operated in the well known manner.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated another modilication of the invention inwhich the needle 3 carriedy by the head 2 is provided withan inner orsecond point 8 terminating immediately adjacent the normally imperforaterubber sheet closure 5. AWhen pressure is exerted upon the collapsible or other liquidcontainingportionof the syringe to which this form of theinvention is attached, the seal or closure 5 is bulged outwardly intothe hollowl of the head 2, as'shown in dotted lines, Ibeing thus forcedagainst the adjacent needle point and being at once punctured thereby sothat the liquid in the syringe body iiows directly into the needle whoseopening is now within the liquid holding space'of the bulb l.

While the above invention is particularly adapted to a hypodermicsyringe of the form shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that it mayobviously be utilized in other forms of syringe and in similar apparatussuch for example, as the piston syringe shown in Fig. 4. In thisinstrument there is provided a cylindrical barrel or body 9 having atone end areduced neck 10 and containing a slidable piston 11. Theopposite end oi said barrel is closed by a corkI the needle` or similarstructure 12 serving to guide the pistonrod 13, on whose outer end ismounted an'operating handle 14. In this instance the reduced neck 10 ofthe barrel is connected by a short length of rubber tubing 15 to head orplug 2 which as before, is sealed from the liquid in the barrel 9 and iscaused. to close the latter by means of the rubber sheet 5 whichis heldover its inner end. Obviously said sheet nay be -impei'gl forate asshown in Fig. 2 so that'it requires', to be punctured by means of astylet before Lanarte the apparatus can be used or on the other hand itmay be rrovided at the time of its manufacture, with a hole or punctureof such a nature as not to interfere with the sealingv function of saidclosure unless pressure is exerted upon it by the liquid in the barrelor container 9.

As shown in Fig. 5, the rubber or other seal may consist of a disk 5*confined between the ,end of the needle head or plug 2a and the shoulderof a nut 16 threaded thereon. rIhis disk may be perforated in any of theways previously described, though I have shown it as having the secondpoint of a double pointed needle so placed as to puncture it when it isbulged by pressure.

Again as in Fig. 6, the rubber or other sealing sheet 5c may be coninedbetween a tapering tubular member 17 and the walls of a correspondinglytapered cavity formed in a second t bularmember 18 so that it extendsover and closes the passage from the latter to the former which is shownas having a needle mounted in it as in Figs. 3 and 5. p

While I preferably employ rubber sheeting as the closure for the needlehead or plug 2, it is obvious that other puncturable material, eitherflexible or relatively rigid, may be employed for this purpose, andliketicularly adapted for use with the sealed needle head abovedescribed, the latter may be employed with advantage with other forms ofliquid containers regardless of whether these are made of collapsiblematerial or are of other types.

It is obviously immaterial whether the needle structure or metallicneedle-carrying member be employed in connection with a diaphragm 5 indirect engagement with the collapsible container 1, or whether as shownin Fig. 4, it be mounted in a flexible tube 15 forming a continuation ofor connected Y to a container or reservoir such as the barrel 9;-theessential featurer of this part of my invention residing in theprovision of the tubular structure in combination with a diaphragm sealso mounted as to normally exclude the liquid from atmosphericcontamination 0r from contact with the material of the conduit,whilebeing adapted to automatically puncture or open to permit of thedelivery oi liquid when pressure is exerted thereon, or to beconveniently punctured prior to the application of such pressure.

I claim:

l. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a container having anoutlet; a delivery conduit mounted in said outlet; and 1 a seal for thecontainer consisting of a diaphragm-of sheet material-closing thepassage of the conduit and confined between the walls ci the outlet andthose of said conduit.

a. 'ne combination in a. hypodermi Syr- 1` wise, while an elongatedrubber bulb is par- Y inge of a container; a needle structure connectedto said container and permanently held from longitudinal movement; and adiaphragm of sheet material the container and positioned to normallyprevent access of material in the latter to the needle structure.

3. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a container;

a tubular structure mounted in the outlet of said container; a

hypodermic needle mounted in said structure; and a seal of relativelythin material mounted over one end of the tubular structure in positionto normally cut o the liquid in the container from the tubular structureand the needle.

4. A hypodermic syringe consisting of a collapsible containerpermanently closed at one end and having a needle head inserted in itsopposite end; a needle for said head; and a diaphragm extending acrossthe opening into the needle and confined between the latter and thewalls of the container in position. to seal the latter as well as cutoff the liquid therein from the needle head.

5. rlhe combination in a hypodermic syringe of an elongated rubber bulb;a needle structure including a tubular head mounted in one end of saidbulb; and a diaphragm of relatively thin material mounted over theentrance to the needle head in position to normally exclude therefromthe liquid in the container.

6. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a collapsible container; aneedle structure mounted in one end of the same; and a diaphragm ofsheet rubber extending over the inlet to the needle structure andconfined between the same and the walls of the container. v

7. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a container; a tubulardelivery conduit therefor; and a diaphragm having a normally sealedopening therein mounted between the container and the conduit inposition to prevent passage of liquid from the container to the conduit.

8. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a container; a tubulardelivery conduit therefor; and a diaphragm of relatively thin materialmounted between the conduit and the container in position to normallyseal the latter, said diaphragm having a cut adapted to open underpressure on the diaphragm but normally sealed to prevent passage ofliquid.

9. The combination in a hypodermic Syringe of a container; a needlestructure therefor; with a diaphragm normally sealing the container fromthe needlestructure; and a point extending adjacent ythe diaphragm inposition to pierce the same when it is deflected from its normalposition.

l0. The combination in a hypodermic syringe of a collapsible container;a tubular head mounted in the outlet of the container; a diaphragmnormally sealing the entrance to the tubular head; and a double pointedneedle mounted in the head with one of its points extending adjacent thediaphragm in position to puncture the same when the collapse of thecontainer causes pressure to be exerted upon said diaphra In witnesswhereof I a my signature.

PAUL S. PITTENGER.

